Integration of Embedded GPS/INS on the T-45A Aircraft

David Nelthropp, James Campanile and Luci Federici

Abstract:	The advancement of low cost solid state inertial navigation technology combined with the miniaturization of multi-channel Global Positioning System receivers has generated increased interest in the use of embedded GPS/INS navigation systems for diverse aircraft applications. Embedded systems offer substantial size, weight, performance and power savings over conventional inertial navigation systems, and provide a simple alternative to complex integrations involving separate GPS and INS systems. The U.S. Navy is capitalizing on this technology in order to provide the T-45TS GOSHAWK wfth GPS capability. The Navy strategy for accomplishing this is to procure a reasonably mature ‘off-the-shelf’ guidance system which can meet or exceed the size, performance and power requirements of the currently planned navigation system for the T45, while providing GPS capability to the aircraft. The T-45 embedded GPS/INS requirements are based on the Standard Attitude Heading Reference System (SAHRS) functional requirements, and Miniature Airbom GPS Receiver (MAGR) specifications, as well as current industry capabilities for embedded systems. As one of the first aircraft of any type to receive an embedded GPS/INS system, unique issues have arisen related to aircraft integration and the use of hybrid navigation data (i.e. blended GPS and INS navigation data). Hardware-in-the-loop laboratory and dynamic field testing will be conducted at the Naval Command, Control and Ocean Surveillance Center (NCCOSC) division detachment Warminster, PA in order to resolve performance and functional integration issues. This will mitigate the risks involved in ascertaining the optimal configuration for providing high integrity navigation to the T-45TS, using the best aspects of both GPS and INS. The focus of this paper is a synopsis of the NCCOSC strategy for embedded GPS testing and NCCOSC recommendations for integration/testing of embedded navigation systems.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 5th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1992) September 16 - 18, 1992 Albuquerque, NM
Pages:	215 - 223
Cite this article:	Nelthropp, David, Campanile, James, Federici, Luci, "Integration of Embedded GPS/INS on the T-45A Aircraft," Proceedings of the 5th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1992), Albuquerque, NM, September 1992, pp. 215-223.
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